Spennymoor Town has recently announced significant and essential improvements to its ground, The Brewery Field.

These improvements include increases to capacity, an extra 503 seats, new turnstiles, new terracing, officials rooms, spectator first aid room, a new PA and CCTV system.

Many of these developments are essential to allow the club to take part in the National League North playoffs, which has become a significant possibility through its excellent league performance.

Clearly, such dramatic developments will come at a significant cost to the club. Spennymoor Town FC is proud to be embedded in the heart of the community and will endeavour to continue to be an asset for Spennymoor and County Durham.

To this end, the club is asking fans to donate anything they can to help drive these improvements.

Today, a Crowdfunder campaign has launched online. It will run alongside the season-long “Chuck It In The Bucket” collections on match days and all proceeds will be added to the ground development fund. The total so far from the bucket collections stands at £914.32.

Mike Rowcroft, Head of Supporter Engagement, said: “We enjoy a great relationship with our fans, who showed the club great support last season to refurbish our existing seats. We’ve installed a commemorative plaque on the north side of the Ramside Estates Main Stand, which lists the name of everyone who gave to the fund.

“Firstly, I’d like to thank those who have already contributed this season through Chuck It In The Bucket, whether they be Spennymoor or visiting fans.

“The club is showing real ambition to thrive at the next level and I hope our fans, and fans of North East football in general, can give us a helping hand in achieving our goals.”

Spennymoor Town is making final preparations to surpass ‘Grade B’ status with a series of further ground developments at The Brewery Field.

To participate in the Vanarama National League North play-offs, the stadium must be ‘Grade B’ standard, which will be achieved by the deadline of 31 March 2018.

A strong first half of the season has left the newly-promoted Moors sitting proudly in fifth position in the National League North. If they continue to perform to that standard in the second half of the season, a playoff berth is a significant possibility.

To prepare for that eventuality, the ground’s capacity will exceed 3,000 by 31 March, with the ability to go to 5,000 with further modifications over the next 12 to 18 months. Work begins on Monday 22 January 2018.

The club is pleased to announce the contractors who will be carrying out the work as: PJ Steel Construction Ltd incorporating Stadium Solutions; Arena Stadia; Pro Com; and RWS Solutions.

PHASE ONE

Phase One of the developments will see the North East wall on the right of the Wood Vue turnstiles moved back to engulf the current officials’ car park and provide essential extra capacity. There will also be four new spectator entrances installed on that side of Wood Vue, taking the total to eight spectator entrances – ‘Grade A’ standard. This will ease any congestion and queueing on Wood Vue in the short term and allow more spectators to enter the ground more efficiently.

A new female-only officials’ changing room will be created within the Ramside Estates Main Stand. The ground’s three sets of spectator toilets are already ‘Grade A’ standard in relation to the ground’s capacity.

The ground’s dugouts will also be replaced with two 11-seater dugouts and an extra four-seater to accommodate officials.

The most dramatic development will see 503 new seats added to the stand at the North East end of the Ground, behind the goal, taking The Brewery Field’s seated capacity to 753 (Grade A). This stand is currently all-standing, but will round off the Phase One developments by becoming seated. Spennymoor Town will not charge any extra for the use of any of the 753 seats in the ground. They will continue to be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

PHASE TWO

Phase Two will take place from May 2018 with plans to increase the capacity to beyond 5,000. This will involve new higher terracing/canopy stands at the South East and South West sides of the ground.

Other Phase Two developments being considered include the erection of a new two-storey club-house in the North East corner; a reduction in the severity of the incline on the playing surface; the installation of an irrigation, sprinkler and drainage system to aid ground maintenance; and a totally new and improved perimeter fence around the field.

Bradley Groves, Chief Executive of Spennymoor Town FC, said: “We made significant improvements to the stadium and our match day experience at the start of this season in preparation for life at this level. We’re now surpassing all expectations on the pitch, which is making life in the National League a real possibility, so we have to prepare effectively for a possible place in the play-offs.

“The feedback on our new Platinum Club suite and catering additions around the ground has been very positive. We now offer some of the best hospitality in the National League North.

“Following my Christmas update issued on 21 December 2017, I’m pleased to be able to share more about some of the exciting developments we have planned.